This Veterans Day, we would like to spotlight a very special veteran in our community, Maynard Forbes! Maynard served at Fort Devens for 24 years, starting as a 2nd Lieutenant and working his way to colonel by the time of his retirement. His service took him around the US and internationally as well, with two tours in Germany, two in Vietnam, and one in Korea. Some of his work included training and personnel matters, and he also commanded small units and a battalion. Thank you Maynard for all your years of service!
On Sunday, October 13th, Rev. Ross Allen and Joyce DeGreeff led part one of a two part series on “Building Beloved Community” within the context of our growing church community. After an introduction to the history of the term, first coined by philosopher and theologian Josiah Royce and later popularized by Martin Luther King Jr., folks exchanged stories of personal experiences with both strong and challenging communities. From this, we agreed on some shared values and optimum guidelines for strengthening relationships and communicating effectively when trying to build a beloved community. We also named the fact that inevitably disagreements and conflicts will arise that will require intentional action in order to work through the differences. Using a tool called the “Approaching Differences Diagram”, we were able to reflect together on the benefits of entering into these more difficult spaces with a posture of openness and trust, as opposed to one of suspicion and fear, in order to move through the dissonance with grace and find a place of understanding and empathy.
Please join us this coming Sunday, October 20th, @ 11am in the Parlor for Building Beloved Community: Part II – Spiritual Gifts and the Power of Belonging.
An experiment that began last year is working beyond our wildest dreams. It’s a simple gathering of folks who happen to be free on a Wednesday morning once a month, to hang out in the WCUC Parlor and chat over coffee and refreshments – a sort of mid-week “coffee hour” that lasts an hour and half from 10:30-12noon so that people have the time and space to share stories, talk about what’s going on in their lives, and find joy in laughter, connection, and friendship. And for those who might prefer a quieter activity, there’s always a jigsaw puzzle available too. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month, so the next dates are: October 16th, November 20th, and December 18th. Please consider stopping by if you have the time. We’d love to visit with you!
Life can sometimes feel like it’s one transition after another. Whether big or small, these transitions can be both exciting and challenging. There’s no one right way to get through them, but often it’s helpful to share our experiences, learn from one another, and find support for the journey. Such was the case on Saturday, April 20th when these folks pictured below came together for prayer and meditation, sharing and discernment, faith formation and food fellowship. Rev. Matt Carriker, the retreat facilitator, taught the group how to use the Quaker practice of Clearness Committees to understand liminal spaces in our lives as well as Lectio Divina, a contemplative practice of reading Scripture for deeper, more personal meanings. Through conversation and spiritual practices, the retreat participants came away with various tools for navigating transitions in their lives as well as a few new friends for the road ahead.
I felt pretty strange describing my sabbatical before I left. I’ve always enjoyed nature but camping and environmentalism were hardly defining interests. These are just some of the things people said: “Why are you so interested in trees all of the sudden? And why Ireland? Didn’t you go there a few years ago? You say, you’re planning to do yard work during some of the time? That’s the last thing I would do during vacation time.”
I can understand why people responded this way. I didn’t know why I craved green things so much. I just did. My body and soul seemed to want green in an almost visceral way. It didn’t seem to matter whether I was gardening in my backyard, devouring books about the science of forests, or biking though the green hills of Ireland.
I’ve returned from my time away with a deep appreciation for green things; not just because of their physical beauty or usefulness, but because of what they teach us about the nature of life. I never realized that forests are comprised of complex networks of organisms which together have an essential role in the climate. For example, did you know that the size, shape and type of trees growing in a given area can determine the temperature and water level? And apparently, huge trees depend on the tiny threads of an underground network of fungi to send and receive information from one another. Different species of trees will actually warn each other about approaching pests and diseases! And some trees work together for years to keep their parent trees alive if they’re damaged. There’s so much more I could say about how incredible forests are. If you want to learn more, check out “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben or “To Speak For the Trees” by Diana Beresford-Kroeger.
You know the old saying: “You can’t see the forest for the trees?” It means not being able to see the big picture because of being overwhelmed by the immediate concerns that surround us and block our view. I’d say that’s a pretty good description of my mental state before the sabbatical. In our chaotic world, with its 24 hour news cycle, it’s been difficult to hold on to hope while tragedy after tragedy arises to demand our attention until we feel utterly surrounded by suffering. It has felt like unbridled self-interest, violence and bigotry have gained the upper hand, especially over the last several years.
Little did I know that the trees could help me find the forest and see the big picture again. Like Hildegard of Bingen, I heard God calling me recognize her in the greenness all around me regardless of what else was happening in the world and to notice that my soul was already returning to its green and life-filled state, like a plant greening up after long-delayed rain.
What inspires me so much about green things is that they clearly demonstrate the benefits of valuing diversity and interdependence over competition and artificial homogeneity. I don’t think it’s an accident that some of the oldest, most natural systems on earth resemble the spiritual values of most world religions: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31, Matthew 7:21, 19:19, 22:39, Luke 10). “None of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself” (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 72). Sounds like a blueprint for diversity and interdependence to me.
Thanks to the Dennis Lin Fund, Sunday Fellowship was able to celebrate forty years of ministry in style. Gorgeous outfits, elaborate decorations (complete with a red carpet), enthusiastic dancing, a photo booth, karaoke and delicious food under a tent in the Garden made the SF Prom a day to remember. A toast to the members and friends of Sunday Fellowship throughout the years on whose shoulders we now stand. Dennis, we know you would have loved it!
Setting the sceneDrinks and Hors D’Oeuvres in the GardenTime to Party!Country Road, Take me Home!Lola Came!Time to Party!Million Dollar Smile!A toast to Sunday FellowshipTo Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To Sunday Fellowship!To forty years of Sunday Fellowship!
During this time you may not have given much thought to what’s happening in our church building. However, several folks have been busy improving things!
Susan Coppock has made our lower level bathrooms much more beautiful and functional. This involved changing plumbing and adding art, window treatments, and furniture. Then David Frink added new “touchless” features throughout the building to increase the safety of using the bathrooms at this time. Take a look!
